Lost on how to locate Italian family

[Bforni]

I am in need of help. My great-grandfather moved to the United States in 1907 or 1908. Unfortunately, our family that remained in Italy did not get passed down to each subsequent generation, so I find myself beginning from scratch to try and locate my ancestors.

This is what I know. John (I believe his real name was Giovanni) Forni, born in 1890 in Bologna Province (maybe the City of Decima) immigrated to the US on the Canopic Ship (I believe) in late 1907 or early 1908 from Napoli to Boston, Massachusetts. A few years later his wife, Ida, followed him.

Any information or guidance of how I can take up the search to locate my family still in Bologna Province today, would be greatly appreciated.

[vj]

Welcome to the Forum!
This may help you locate family currently living in/near Bologna.

White pages:
http://www.paginebianche.it/index_en.html

Form Letter to a Possible Relative

[vj]

for everyone's reference
your 1907 manifest from ancestry.com
http://imageshack.us/a/img856/3606/1907p.jpg
next page
http://imageshack.us/a/img255/6476/1907b.jpg

Ship Name: Canopic
Arrival Date: 11 Nov 1907
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts

line 9
Giovanni Forni, 17 born abt 1890
- single
- laborer
- last residence Bologna, Decima*
- leaving father Alfonso in San Matteo di Decima
- destination Plymouth MA
- joining brother Vincenzo
- born in Bologna, Decima

* San Matteo della Decima is a frazione (fraction/village) in the comune (municipality) of San Giovanni in Persiceto, Bologna Province, Emilia-Romagna Region

[vj]

Just in case you don't already have this record from ancestry

Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988
Bridgewater, Births, Marriages and Death

1919 Intentions of Marriage
record #39
http://imageshack.us/a/img835/9900/1919f.jpg

Event Type: Marriage
Event City: Bridgewater
Marriage Date: 28 Aug/2 Sep 1919

Name: John Forni
Residence: Bridgewater Mass
Birth Date: abt 1891 in S Matteo Decima Italy
Marriage Age: 28
First Marriage
Father Name: Alfonso Forni
Mother Name: Lauro (Laura) Feranti (Ferranti)

Spouse Name: Ida Bergonzi
Residence: Boston Mass
Birth Date: abt 1896 in Italy (Metti*)
Spouse Marriage Age: 23
First Marriage
Spouse Father Name: Giuseppe Bergonzi
Spouse Mother Name: Luigio (Luigia) Padovani

* possibly the frazione Metti, in the comune Bore, Parma Province, Emilia-Romagna Region

[pink67]

And from the site Familysearch.org the possible birth act for Giovanni:

Birth Act number 160 - year 1890

Forni Giovanni was born in San Giovanni in Persiceto, hamlet Decima, house number 206, on the day 10 november 1890, son of Alfonso Forni, age 40, day-labourer, and of his wife Laura Ferranti (maiden name) age 39, housekeeper.

link to the original act's image:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/T ... :948612885

Laura

[vj]

Laura,

WOW!
Great record

Big Smile
Valarie

[pink67]

Ciao Valarie

Laura

[Larry Parker]

Bforni,

I took the two photos of the two halves of the 1907 manifest that vj was so nice to find and post. I combined them into one photo, I turned down the excessive brightness a little, I fixed a few things, I cropped it a little, I resized it to 70% so it isn't such a big file size, but it is still easily readable, then I posted it for you:

http://imageshack.us/a/img850/4120/giov ... ni1907.jpg

The original two photos both did not contain a tiny bit of the center of the page, so you may notice that, but nothing important is missing.

[Bforni]

All of you have been amazing and gracious with your time and efforts. Thank you so much.

[Dinamarie]

l will be going to Bologna in May and hoping to visit Decima. Here is what I have for genealogy of the Forni family in America.
(* the Tommy you mentioned, son of Maria Diella Forni 1890–1970, is my Grandfather = Tommaso (Tommy) Luvarà-Forni 1912–2004).

Great that you remember Maria Diella Forni 1890–1970 (* my Paternal Great-Grandmother) and that your Father was close with Tommaso (Tommy) Luvarà-Forni 1912–2004 (* my Paternal Grandfather) My Father (Stanley Luvarà-Johnson) is deceased. My Uncles fondly remember frequently visiting with their Forni relatives in Springfield, and they said that their Father (and my Grandfather) Tommaso (Tommy) Luvarà-Forni was very close with his Mother’s Forni relatives

PHOTOS: Tommaso Luvarà-Forni 1912–2004 ( My Paternal Grandfather, the Son of Maria Diella Forni 1890–1970 & Giovanni Luvarà 1882–1931, and the Nephew of Giuseppe Luciano Forni 1895–1964)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 4593359462

PHOTOS: M. J. Luvarà-Ferguson | MJLF ( Maria Diella Forni 1890–1970 = Paternal Great-Grandmother, Tommaso Luvarà-Forni 1912–2004 = Paternal Grandfather, Stanley Luvarà-Johnson = Father)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 2417983825

Children of Maria Diella Forni 1890–1970:
Tommaso (Tommy) Luvarà-Forni 1912–2004 (* My PATERNAL GRANDFATHER)
Paolo (Paul) Vantangoli-Forni 1914–1999
Clara Vantangoli-Forni 1915–2015
Arturo (Arthur) Vantangoli-Forni 1922–1993
Leonardo (Leo) Vantangoli-Forni 1924–2008

Children of Ermogene Forni 1853–1923 & Delfina Palavanchi 1863–1931:
Maria Diella Forni 1890–1970 (* my Paternal Great-Grandmother)
Giuseppe (Joseph) Luciano Forni 1895–1964
Petronio (Walter) Forni 1899–1985
Domizio Stefano Forni 1903–1969
Luisa (Louise) Maria Forni 1905–1977
Josephine Forni 1892–1961
Agostino Forni
Giuseppina Forni

Ermogene Forni 1853–1923 (* and other Forni relatives) are buried in Saint Michael's Cemetery (Springfield/Massachusetts)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225 ... gene-forni

Hope that helps you a little.